An investigation of the attachment organization of clinical psychologists and its relationship to clinical practice

Recent research on attachment theory as a model for understanding adult rel ationships and for psychotherapy suggests that the attachment organization of therapists could influence their approach to therapeutic work. A postal questionnaire including two measures of current adult attachment and one of early loss experience, together with measures of current clinical practice , was completed by 196 British clinical psychologists (40.4% return rate). Seventy per cent of the sample raced themselves as secure (a greater propor tion than in che general population). The sample as a whole scored higher o n the attachment pattern of 'compulsive care-giving' than on any of the oth er insecure patterns of attachment. A number of significant differences wer e found between the secure and insecure groups in approach to work, interes t in working with different clients and difficulty experienced in therapeut ic practice. A relationship was found between the amount of early loss expe rienced and current attachment style, therapeutic orientation and experienc e of therapy, implications for the training and development of psychologist s are considered and directions for future research are suggested.